Rolling door



G. G. MILLS ROLLING DOOR July 16, 1940.

5 sheets-sheet i Filed Aug. 16, 1939 Guy G. M/L-Ls,

MZUMM G. G. MILLS ROLLING DOOR July 16, 1940.

Filed Aug. ,16, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 (libwww/41 G. G. MILLS ROLLING DOOR July 16, 1940.

Filed Aug. 1e, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jwefwu'o GUY G. MILLS,

Patented July 16, 1940 PATENT OFFICE ROLLING DGOR Guy G. Mills, Columbus, Ohio Application August 16,

` 12 Claims.

The invention relates to an improved rolling door and particularly to a metal rolling door prol vided with connected sections of varying width which may be in the form of interengaging metal slats in combination with metal panels. The door may comprise metal panels exclusively, if desired, or a combination of interengaging panels and slats.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a metal rolling door having sections of varying width; in a preferred form, relatively narrow engaging metal slats are employed in association with relatively wide panels which may be equipped with sash fitted with glass or other transparent or translucent material to allow transmission of light through the closed door; while the invention will be described with particular reference to a door, it will be understood that it is applicable generally to closures, including doors and windows although it is designed for particular employment in a vertical door comprising a plurality of interengaging horizontal superimposed sections which are raised and lowered in order to open or close the door.

Another object to provide a closure of the foregoing type wherein the door comprises a plurality of interconnected panels which may be equipped with windows and which are of successively increasing width towards the bottom of the door whereby they are adapted to be wound up on the winding drum in a compact arrangement with each successive layer on the drum concentric with the layer therebeneath.

Another object is to provide a door having in terengaging slats. at'the top with panels therebelow, and to provide means on the panels whereby they will wind smoothly over the slats wound therebelow; in a preferred form means is also provided for insuring that succeeding sl-ats4 or panels will be wound over the panels in a uniform concentric manner. 1

Another object is to provide in a rolling door windows having reinforcing sash and disposed in a staggered or overlapping fashion in adjacent panels whereby a door having maximum strength for a given light transmitting area is obtained.

Another object is to provide a rolling door having a drum which is oifset for receiving the slats and for positioning the several layers of slats or panels or `both in a true spiral whereby greater compactness is obtained together with a longer life of the door sections due to the greater freedom from stress as they are wound and unwound from the drum.

Still another object is to provide a polygonal 1939, Serial No. 290,522

drum in association with a door which is composed of relatively wide sections adjacent the drum, the width of these sections being approximately equal to the width of the` polygonal sections on the polygonal drum whereby smooth `5v winding is obtained; in one form, the initially wound, relatively wide sections may be provided with means for insuring that subsequent relatively narrow sections are wound on an approximately circular form.

Still other objects will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings;

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a door opening provided with one form of door embodying the principles of the present invention; in this iigure, the door has relatively wide panels at the top and an interengaging slat curtain at the bottom.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through Figure l, showing the chain sheave for winding and unwinding the door.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing a door with relatively wide panels at the middle, these panels being equipped with staggered sash, and interengaging slat curtains at the top and bottom.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figures 1 and 3 but showing a door `made up of interengaging panels as distinguished from slats, the panels at the top of the door being relatively narrow in width, those adjacent the middle being wider and those at the bottom being still wider; these panels are so gauged inwidth that a succeeding group of sections will nest over a preceding group of sections.

Figure 5 is an end elevation partly in section of one form of drum and door, in which the winding drum is circular and the door has relatively wide panels adjacent its top, which panels are provided with concave segments for engagement with the winding drum.

Figure 6 is a vertical section through another form of drum and door, in .which the panels are engaged with one another by a pinned hinge instead of by an interlocking hinge.

Figure 7 is a detailed rear elevation of a por- 45 tion of the panel section of the door Fig. 6.

Figure 8 is an end elevation showing an oirset winding drum of polygonal form on which is wound a door having panels at itsy top and a slat curtain therebelow, the panels being equipped with convex segments designed to form a drum so as to allow subsequent coiling of the slat curtain.

Figure 9 is a vertical section of a winding drum which is equipped with a door having a slat curtainat the top and a panel section therebelow,

the last slat being provided with an elevating lug connected to the rst panel and designed to raise the end of the first slat to thereby permit subdesigned to permit smooth coiling of subsequentl panels or slats.

Figure 10 is an enlarged end elevation of a panel equipped on the inside with concave seg-l ments and on the outside with convex segments. Figure 1l is an elevation of a panel equipped with segments at spaced signed to aid in nesting or coiling of the door are spaced at intervals horizontally along the panels. Figure l2 is a horizontal section through one end of a panel equipped with a sash and shows the details of arrangement of the panel and sash.

Figures 13 to 15 are detailed views showing alternative methods of connection of a panel to ai slat or to another panel.

Referring to the drawings in detail and, first, generally to Figures 1 to 4, reference numeral l designates a Wall in which the door or'closure of the present invention may be located. Along the sides of the opening in wall I are provided a pair of vertical channels 2 which are adapted to guide the door in its vertical movement during opening and closing. These channels 2 are secured in any desired manner to the sides of the opening. A winding drum housing 3 is mounted horizontally at the top of the door opening and is adapted to have the door wound and unwound therein upon a winding drum 4 contained there- `Within. Drum 4l is rotatably mounted about a stationary shaft 5, and is xedly connected to a gear (i in mesh with a pinion (not shown) driven by a toothed wheel I about which a chain 8 is disposed whereby the door may be wound or unwound as desired by manipulation of chain 8. Preferably, a counterbalancing-spring 9 is disposed within the winding drum, the spring having one end fastened securely to the winding drum and the other end fastened securely to a collar IU (see Figures r5 and 6) fixedly attached to stationary shaft 5. to be placed under tension as the door is unwound to close the closure and to unwind during opening of the doorto thereby aid in the opening.

In Figure l, there is shown a rolling steel door having at its top a panelled section made up of interengaging relatively wide panels I 2 and at its bottom the usual interengaging slats II.` The panels I2 are provided with sash designated generally as I 3 which are disposed in non-overlapping relation in vertical rows. -As` indicated in Figure 12, these sash I3 comprise a pane of glass I'I faced on the front of the door with a reinforcing flat edge member I4 and on the rear with an angle edge member I5, members I4 and I5 being secured to the panel I2 in any desired manner and serving to reinforce or stiffen the same. Angle members I5 may be fixedly attached to `rearwardly extending upstanding flat members I6 attached to panel I2. If desired, panels vI2. may not be equipped with sash.` The sash may be fitted with other transparent or translucent material than glass to allow light to pass through the closed door or window.

In Figure 3, there is shown an alternative construction wherein there is a slat portion made up of interengaging slats II at the top and bottom and wherein the central portion is made up of panels I2, Which may or may not be equipped intervals along its length; this View shows that the segments de- This spring is so disposed as with sash I3. 'This figure shows a preferred arrangement of the sash I3 in which they are in overlapping position in different panels so as to provide the desired stiffness in the curtain as a Whole, thereby making for a construction of maximum strength while of good light-transmit ting character. The arrangement shown with the windowed panels in the center is particularly desirable for high Windows or doors, allowing light to pass through at a level nearer the oor than where the windowed. panels are in the top section of the door as in Figure 1.

Instead of the arrangements already described, the door may be provided with a slat curtain at the top and a panelled section at the bottom, the panels being equipped or not With sash. This lastconstruction is especially desirable for doors over eight feet in height which are operated by means of handles on the bottom of the door.

In Figure 4, there is shown an alternative construction wherein the door is made up exclusively p of panels, those siX in the top section designated #2a. being of a first Width and being adapted to form a first encircling layer around the drum, those six in the central section being designated I2ZJ and being slightly Wider so as to form a second encircling layer exactly conforming to the first layer on the drum and those of the bottom section I2Cv being still Wider and likewise adapted to form a third encircling layer. The three uppermost panels I2a. are hidden behind the drumI housing and go up to and are attached to the drum. All of the panels in each group are of substantially the vsame width. By this construction, the initial sectionwill coil over. the drum which may be polygonal (hexagonal) and the other two sections will be wide enough to rest successively over the first in close and perfect relationship thereto. Any or all of the panels may be fitted with sash. At the bottom of each door in'Figures l, 3 and 4, a bottom slat or panel I8 is preferably provided which is adapted to engage the floor and which is not generally coiled onto the drum but merely pulled up into the drum housing. f In'Figures 13 to 15, there are illustrated various ways of' securing interlocking between a panel and a slat or between adjacent panels. The panel I2 is provided where desired with a stiffener angle I9 adjacent its edge which serves to supplement or take the place of the reinforcing provided by the sash I3. The panels I2 are of sufi'icient thickness and sufficiently reinforced to resist eX- cessive bending under normal use or Wind pressure. In-Figure 13 the panel is provided at its edge with a half slat 2l which is interlocked with an adjacent slat II to form a continuous hinge across the door. In Figure 14, the sheet metal panel I2' is rolled with an integral interlock 20 which interlocks with a similar extension on adjacent panels or on an adjacent slat II. In Figure 1 5, a pinned hinge is employed, the adjacent panels I2 being provided at their adjoining edges with half hinges 22 joined by a hinge pin 23. Various combinations of the several interlocking structures shown may be made as desired.

There will now be described the means whereby the-coiling of a door of the foregoing type having sections of varying width upon the opening of the door is brought about. Various combinati'onsof these are shown in Figures 5 to 11.

In' Figure 5, the door has six relatively Wide panels I2 adjacent its top, the uppermost panel being secured to the drum II by a lug, lugs or strap 24 riveted to the drum. At appropriate horizontally spaced intervals along each panel I2 there are attachedv segments 2'5 which have a concave drum engaging surface'ZG. These segments 25 permit perfect nesting ofthe panel'section on revolving metal pipe beam 4.. `The segments may be of metal or other suitable material which will bring about such nesting as shown. The succeeding slat curtain made'up of slats Il is adapted to be wound around the` panel portion so nested. The result is an assembly which is compact and has increased life. The spacing of segments 25 along a panel is variable as desired and preferably a segment 25 is disposed at each end of a panel.

In Figure 6, there is shown a method of winding panels I2 which are provided'with segments 2l having a concave drum-engaging surface 26 and pinned hinges 28, the rst isegmentsbeing attached to the drum 4 by a vriveted lug 2c as in Figure 5. 'Ihe sheet metal ofpanels I2 may be provided with anvextension 29 overlapping a succeeding panel thereby presenting a tight joint when the door is lowered. Figure 7 is a rear view of a portion of a panel i2 of Figure 6, showing how the segments are riveted tothe panel.v Instead of riveting, bolts, welding or other mode of attachment may be employed.`

Taking up Figure 8, there is illustrated a polygonal (hexagonal) winding drum 30 having at sides 32 adapted to receive flatwise'the panels l2 provided at the initial or top part` of the door. These panels are provided with extending edge angles i9 which are adaptedrto be received in cylindrical recesses 3| in the drum 30. Recesses 3l allow the angles I9 to rotate therewithin and thus allow a succeeding panel l2 to pivot about its interlocking point thus allowing free seating `and unseating during winding or ,unwinding This view illustrates attachment ofthe rst panel to the drum by means of a hinge 33 and an angle member 34 received in and secured to the drum, angle 3Q being received in a recess which extends across the full length of the drum. The interlock hinge 33 may or may not be continuous and is preferably a strap hinge of `any width required to properly carry the curtain weight.

In Figure 8, there is also shown the use of what I have chosen to call an offset drum 3D which is higher at 35 where the last lofthe last panel engages it than at 36 where the rst of the first panel engages it by a distance such that the slat section which winds up next will continue to wind evenly. This offset feature may be used with any of the embodiments illustrated.

The panels l2y are provided on `their rear face with spaced segments 31 having .convex outer faces 38 which form, in effect, a substantially circular drum upon which the slat curtain may coil thereby preventing the stress and unevenness brought about when winding the slat curtain upon the coiled panels of Figures 5 and 6, for example.

Figure 9 shows an initial curtain of slats H secure-d to the drum 4 by a lug, lugs or strap 4o and followed by a series of panels I2 which are provided on their inside with spaced segments 25 which have concave inner surfaces 26 and on their outside with spaced segments 3'! having convex outer surfaces 3B. The inner concave surfaces are adapted to closely engage the arcuate surface presented by either the'drum 4 or the slats Il, as the case may be, while the convex outer surfaces are adapted to form a drum for succeeding layers of panels .or slats. The last slat Il is connected to the rst panel by spaced elevating lugs or strap 39 ,which is adapted to be fastened to the'slat to which thepanel is to be attached when panels are below the slat section of a door, to raise the point of `connection between the slat and the first panel, thereby permitting subseqent smooth nesting of the panel upon` the drum or previously coiled slats and preventing'undue strain on the joint of interlock between the last slat and the first panel.

It is to be understoodv that various features of my invention may be combined with other features thereof without departing therefrom. For example, while the drawings show specically certain features in combination with one another, the several features of the various views may be combinedwith features of other views. It is also to be understood that I intend to com prehend as within my invention such modifications thereof as maybe necessary to adapt it to varying conditions and uses and as fall Within the scope of the appended claims. Thus, the panels or sections ofthe door may continuously increase in width from topl to bottom, each panel being slightly wider than the preceding one.

In the claimsby the term substantially flat I mean panels which are flat as compared with the curvature of the drum or of the preceding sections of the door wound on the drum.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1 n, i

1. In combination, in a rolling door, a winding drum, an articulated rolling door adapted to be wound upon said drum, said door comprising a plurality of substantially flat relatively wide interlocked sections, and a plurality `of, horizontally spaced means attached to the inward face of said sections, said means being concave on their inward surfaces for engaging the convex surface of the -drum or of a preceding section of the door wound thereon.

2. In combination, in a rolling door, a winding drum, an articulated rolling door adapted to be wound thereupon and comprising a plurality of substantially flat relatively wide interlocked sections, and a plurality of horizontally spaced means on the outer faces of said sections for presenting a convex surface `to suceeding sections of the door wound thereover.

3. In combination, ina rolling door, a winding drum, an articulated rolling door adapted to be wound thereupon and comprising a plurality of substantially flat relatively wide interlocked sections, a plurality of horizontally spaced means on the inner faces of said sections for presenting a concave surface to the drum or to preceding sections of the door wound thereupon, and a plurality of horizontally spaced means on the outer faces of said sections for presenting a convex surface to succeeding sections of the door which are wound thereover.

4. In combination, in a rolling door, a circular winding drum, a rolling door adapted to be wound thereupon and comprising a plurality of interlocked sections, and means for elevating the edge of one of said sections as it is wound upon the drum, said elevating means comprising a member extending inwardly from said edge and adapted to support said edge away from the drum or the surface of preceding wound sections of the door and for thereby insuring even coiling thereof upon the drum.

5. In combination, in a rolling door, a winding drum, a rolling door adapted to be wound thereupon and comprising a plurality of interlocked sections comprising a group of adjacent relatively broad substantially flat sections and a succeeding group of adjacent relatively narrow sections, and means carried by said relatively broad f sections on the outer faces thereof for forming a substantially circular .drum-like surface for said relatively narrow sections as said door is wound upon said drum. g

6. In combination, in a rolling door, a circular winding drum, a rolling door adapted to be Wound thereupon and comprising a plurality of interlocked sections comprising a group of adjacent relatively broad substantially fiat sections and a succeeding group of adjacent relatively narrow sections, means carried by said relatively broad sections on the inner faces'thereof for presenting a concave surface to the drum or to underlying sections of the door Wound upon the drum, and means carried by said relatively broad sections on the outer faces thereof for presenting exteriorly a convex drum-like surface upon which said relatively narrow sections may be Wound.

7. In combination, a Winding drum, a rolling door adapted to be Wound thereupon and comprising a plurality of interlocked sections comprising a group of adjacent relatively broad sections, said winding drum having a polygonal Cross section, said relatively broad sections being adapted to be Wound upon said drum in a position parallel to the polygonal surface thereof and means on the outer surface of said relatively broad sections for presenting a convex drum-like surfaceV for succeeding sections of said door wound thereover.

8. In combination, a Winding drum, a rolling door adapted to be wound thereupon and cornprising a plurality of interlocked sections comprising a group of adjacent relatively broad sections, said winding drum having a polygonal cross section, said relatively broad sections being adapted to be wound upon said drum in a position parallel to the polygonal surface thereof, and means onv the outer surface of said relatively broad sections for presenting a convex drumlike surface for succeeding sections of said door Wound thereover, said drum being of such configuration that the convex drum-like surface formed by said last named means assumes a spiral from the point of attachment of the door'to the drum around the drum to a point adjacent said point of attachment and outwardly thereof whereby bulging of succeeding sections of the door as they passy said point of attachment is prevented.

9. A closure comprising a circular winding drum, an articulated rolling .door mounted thereon and comprising a'group of adjacent relatively wide substantially flat panels, and asucceeding group of articulated narrow slats, a plurality of horizontally spaced segments mounted on the innerV faces of said panels and having a concave inner face adapted to engage the outer surface of said drum vor of sections of said door Wound thereupon, and a plurality of horizontallyspaced segments mounted on the outer faces of said panels and having a convex outer surface adapted to be engaged by succeeding sections of said door, said last-named segments which are peripherally successive cooperating to form an approximately cylindrical surface upon which succeeding sections of said door may be wound.

10. A closure comprising a circular Winding drum, an articulated rolling door mounted thereon and comprising a group of adjacent relatively Wide substantially flat panels and a succeeding group of articulated narrow slats, a plurality of light-transmitting sash in. said panels, a plurality of horizontally spaced segments mounted on the innerA faces of said panels and having a concave inner surface adapted to engage the outer surface o-f'said drum or of sections of said door wound thereupon, anda plurality of horizontally spaced segments mounted on the outer faces of said panels and having a' convex outer surface adapted to be engaged by succeeding sections' of 'said door, the peripherally successive last-named segments cooperating to form an approximately cylindrical surface upon which succeeding sections of said door may be Wound.

11. A closure comprising a circular Winding drum, an articulated rolling door mounted thereon and comprising a group of adjacent relatively wide substantially flat panels, a plurality of lighttransmitting sash in said panels, said sash having reinforcing edge members acting to reinforce said panels, and a plurality of horizontally spaced segments mounted on the inner faces of said l panels and having a concave inner face adapted to engage the outer surface of said drum or of preceding sections 0f said door wound thereupon.

12. A closure comprising a circular winding drum, an articulated rolling door mounted thereon and comprising a group of adjacent relatively Wide substantially flat panels, a plurality of lighttransmitting sash mounted in said panels in staggered relationship in adjacent panels, said sash having reinforcing edge members aroundVI them acting to reinforce said panels, and a plurality of horizontally spaced segments mounted on the inner faces of said panels and having a concave inner face adapted to engage the outer4 preceding sections of surface of said drum or of said door wound thereupon.

' GUY G. MILLS. 

